Editorial

"We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law."

Edward R. Murrow

The Toronto Sun's Michele Mandel's column in the Sunday edition (May 24) was must reading for anyone who may be inclined to offer an opinion on the dreadful events hat have been transpiring involving little Tori Stafford.

During the weeks since the little girl's disappearance, suspicion fell on her mother, Tara McDonald. Mandel said part of the problem was she didn't appear to be acting the way the rest of us would expect a mother to act under such circumstances, as if any of us knows the proper way to act when one's eight-yearold daughter is missing, apparently as the result of an abduction.

Mandel's piece quoted Rob Baltovich, a man who spent years with the stigma of being a convicted murderer before eventually being acquitted. There were references to other people who have been falsely accused of terrible crimes, like Susan Nelles and Guy Paul Morin. And there were others she didn't mention, such as Steven Truscott. We don't blame Mandel for such an oversight. The fact is there are too many examples.

In the face of tragic events, we as a society are often too quick to want a resolution. thus suspicions can lead to assumption of guilt before there's been that sometimes ponderous exercise known as due process of law. That is something we must always strive to avoid. Alas, such effort is most required when it's most difficult; at a time of tragedy, when our instincts cry out for some sort of action.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen yet again another example of how rushing to judgement helps no one. All are entitled to due process, and that includes the people currently facing charges in this incident.